To my faithful readers: Yes, I know, this is a short chapter. It's mostly a bridge to what will come next. Which I promise, will begin to include some intrigue and romance…
Shahrezad1 – You and that crystal bowling ball. Hmm. Please excuse this mindless plot and character development… the real fun will start in Chapter 9. heh heh. Oh, but still review. Lol.
MetroDweller – Yes, they are… and our darling Boy-Who-Lived will get to join the 'club' soon…
Ms. CE – I'm pretty much of the opinion that chocolate solves everything. Not that a man would know that. Lol. As for Bellatrix… more will be revealed in upcoming chapters.
Chapter 8
Draco was, to put it simply, excited. He had three freshly sharpened quills, a full bottle of ink (he'd topped it off with Flourish & Botts best last night), and a stack of clean parchment. He was ready.
Professor Stone giggled, yes, giggled, as he neatly arranged his workspace. "A little overly enthusiastic, Draco?" she asked, lips curled up and eyes twinkling.
Draco scowled at her, as a matter of form. "I like to be prepared," he said haughtily. And secretly laughed as well.
Professor Stone's eyes were gleeful and knowing. "Well, as soon as MR. VERY SLOW GETS HERE," she hollered in the direction of Professor Snape's office, "we can begin," she finished in a normal voice.
"Really, Sonora, must you shout?" Came Snape's smooth drawl from his dark pit of an office. "I assure you, it will not result in my transporting the ingredients you requested any quicker than I currently am."
Professor Stone winked at Draco. "I'm the excitable type," she called. "I don't like waiting."
"I know," came a dark mutter, and Draco had to stifle his chuckle. There were far too many meanings to that reply, as Professor Stone's blush proved.
He cleared his throat, hoping to get back to what he'd been waiting all week for. "Professor, what are you and Professor Snape working on?"
Professor Stone shot a last glare toward Snape, who was just emerging from his office, a loaded tray in his hands. The Potion Master smirked in return. "Actually, Draco," Professor Stone said, turning back to him. "You may find this rather interesting." Draco felt his blood stir in interest. "You remember the Crucio potion from last year," she said. Draco nodded. She'd finally told him the whole truth of the potion during that dreadful time when Umbridge had been running the school, saying that she needed someone else she could trust to know what and where the potion was stored. She hadn't wanted it falling into the wrong hands, and had feared that Umbridge would confiscate her supplies, or worse, ban her from the school. Fortunately the later had never happened, but she and Snape had been forbidden to use school property to further their research. The 'Headmistress' had been deeply suspicious of everyone and their ties to Dumbledore.
"Professor Snape and I spent the summer working on the theory behind turning the potion from a Potion of Intent into one that can be used more generically." Professor Stone shifted to the side as Snape set down the tray, her arm brushing his. To Draco's eyes, the movement was natural, easy, and completely intentional. He smothered a smile. Professor Stone liked to touch. She especially liked to touch Professor Snape, particularly when they were out of a classroom setting. He sometimes enjoyed watching them at the Head Table, as Snape scowled and squirmed and tried to pretend he wasn't savoring every bit of contact.
Draco furrowed his brow just a touch as he processed what she said. "Can that be done?" he asked, confused. He'd thought, having done all that reading last year on Potions of Intent, that what she was proposing was impossible.
Professor Snape spoke now. "Nothing is impossible, Mr. Malfoy, it has merely not been accomplished yet," he said, his voice low and deep and smooth. His black robes billowed a bit as he began to arrange supplies before their cauldron.
"So, you've found a way…" Draco's voice trailed off. Wow. Wow. He gripped his quill tightly, hands beginning to sweat a little in excitement.
Professor Stone grinned at him, eyes sparkling. "Exciting, isn't it? We think we've got some possibilities… but time will tell," she said, as Professor Snape began to stir ingredients into the cauldron. "Don't forget the lacewings, Severus."
"Indeed, because it was my intention to leave them out entirely," he murmured in a sarcastic overtone.
Draco gripped his quill again and grinned. He began to write the list of ingredients as Professor Snape murmured aloud. "Two teaspoons of powdered Graphorn, four cups of purified water…"
**********
"No! What are you, insane?"
"I prythee, wench, cease and desist your treasonous action at once!"
"Put me down put me down put me down!"
"NOOOOOO…."
Cara rolled her eyes as she picked up her bishop. Her queen was currently screeching bloody murder, hopping up and down and shaking her tiny stone fists at Cara, all the while on the other side of the board a black knight was staring at her with a gleam in his stone eyes.
"Excuse me?" she said in an affronted tone, her voice raised over the noise of her pieces. "If you'd shut up long enough, you'd get to see this," she said, setting the bishop down. He was wiggling enough that she was afraid she'd drop him, anyway. She looked up at Ginny and grinned. "Checkmate."
Her king paused. "Oh, well in that case, jolly good, well played."
"Here, here," chimed in a suddenly much happier queen.
"Bloody hell! We never loose!" bellowed the black king, raising his sword. "Stay back, you ruffians!"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "This is the last time I borrow Ron's board," she said. "His pieces are all nutters."
Cara grinned down at her white pieces, who were currently engaged in some sort of victory revel, which included some big group dance-thing. "I dunno, Gin, these guys seem pretty happy."
Ginny snorted as she started packing away the still furious black pieces. "That's because Ron is always black, and Harry is always white. And Harry always looses."
Cara giggled as she started putting away the still-celebratory white pieces. "Harry's that bad?"
"Well, that and Ron's that good," Ginny said ruefully, waiting until the last pawn had been put in place before shutting the lid. "Much as I hate to admit it."
"Speaking of Harry," Cara said, leaning back into the couch, unwilling to go start her Charms homework like she should. "Is he ok? I saw him the other day, and he looked white as a sheet…"
Ginny frowned. "Two days ago?" she asked. "Because I think I saw him then, too, and I know what you mean…" her voice trailed off and she sighed. "Of course, all the big prat would say was 'I'm fine', and 'Isn't it time for lunch'?" She glared down at the chess box. "Jerk," she muttered.
Cara sat and considered her friend. "Gin," she said cautiously. It was always smart to be a bit cautious around Ginny Weasley, she was far to smart and hot-tempered to do otherwise. "Um, just how bad is your crush on him?"
Ginny jerked her eyes up to Cara and glared. "I don't have a crush on Harry Potter!" she hissed. "I got over that two years ago, thank you very much." She stood up in a huff, grabbing the chess box. "Honestly, just because he doesn't seem to want to tell me, his friend, about whatever's got him upset doesn't mean that I still have a crush on him! So there!"
Cara held up her hands. "Ok, sorry, my mistake," she said carefully, not wanting to meet the famous Bat-Bogey Hex without her wand in her hand. "I was just a little curious."
Ginny glared at her. "I have homework to do," she announced before storming off, chess box in hand.
Cara watched her go, before sighing. Ginny'd get over it, and they'd be fine by dinner. But in the meantime, she reflected glumly, she had no excuse anymore not to do her Charms essay. Darn it all.